Jammu, Leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have reportedly issued threats to Muslim communities in the Rajouri-Poonch belt of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, warning them to vote for a Sangh Parivar-backed candidate or face violence reminiscent of the brutal events of 1947 in the region.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has formally lodged a complaint with the Returning Officer of the Islamabad-Rajouri constituency. The complaint alleges that BJP representatives are coercing Pahari Muslims to vote for Altaf Bukhari’s Apni Party, which is said to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindutva agenda. PDP leader Firdous Tak detailed the accusations in the complaint, stating that these actions represent a grave threat to the democratic process and the safety of the voters.

“Our party has lodged a written complaint against the criminal intimidation by BJP leaders in Rajouri and Poonch, demanding they vote for Apni Party or face consequences similar to those of 1947,” Tak reported. The 1947 references pertain to the mass killings of Muslims in the Jammu region during the partition of India.

The complaint included video evidence of a BJP meeting in Mendhar, Poonch, where local leader Satish Bhargav can allegedly be seen making threats. “In this video footage, a BJP leader is seen threatening violence against Paharis to coerce them into voting for Apni Party or risk inciting communal tensions similar to those during the 1947 partition,” Tak explained in his submission to the electoral authorities.

This issue has raised serious concerns about the use of intimidation tactics in electoral processes, with Tak calling for a thorough investigation to ensure that such practices do not undermine the integrity of the upcoming elections.